Synthesis and reactions of metal alkoxides

Abstract

A brief account of the methods generally employed for the synthesis of metal alkoxides has been presented. Successful elucidation of the structural features of simple alkoxides on the basis of a coordination model involving alkoxy bridges has prompted a detailed study of a variety of bimetallic alkoxides during the last two decades followed by the extension of the work to a novel series of ter- and tetra-metallic alkoxides during the last two years. Most of these polymetallic alkoxides (including derivatives of strongly electropositive alkali, alkaline earth metals and lanthanons) are stable to heat and can be volatilized unchanged. After listing the typical properties and reactions of these alkoxy derivatives, their hydrolytic reactions are briefly discussed. The uses of metallic alkoxides for ceramic materials and the potential applications of bimetallic alkoxides in this direction are discussed.